Electric heater.



N0. 63|,959. Patented Aug. 29, I899. I

,E. E. GDLD.

ELECTRIC HEATER.

(Application filed Jan 7, 1899.,

(N0 Model.)

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD E. GOLD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC HEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,959, dated August 29, 1899.

Original application filcd January 8, 1898, Serial No. 666,024 Divided and this application filed January 7, 1899. Serial No. 701,493. (No models T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. GOLD, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvementsin Electric Heaters, of which the following isa specification.

This application is a division of my application, Serial No. (366,024, filed January 8, 1898.

This invention relates to electric heaters wherein the heat is generated by passing an electric current through a coil or helix of resistant wire which is exposed to the air. My invention provides improved means for sup porting such resistant helix.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the resistant helix and its supports, the helix being shown partly in section. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional or dissected elevation showing a suitable construction of electric heater embodying my invention with its casing and connections. Fig. at is a transverse section of Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are views answering to Fig. 2 and showing modifications.

In the figures let A designate a helix of resistant wire, and let B B designate supports therefor, consisting of wires or rods, being preferably insulating-supports.

My present invention is characterized by the supporting of a resistant helix A upon a plurality of wires or rods B B, which are extended parallel with and within the helix in such manner as to form a continuous support for it, each rod making tangential contact with its successive convolutions. The supporting wires or rods are of small diameter relatively to the helix, so that their points of I in itself or capable of being effectively coated tangential contact with the successive convolu'tions thereof are of very minute area, so that practically the entire surface of the resistant wire is left free from contact with any supporting part and is surrounded by air or other fiuid which can rapidly conduct off from it the heat which it generates. The supporting wires or rods are also made much smaller than the internal diameter of the helix, so that they do not fill the latter nor to any material extent obstruct its interior, but leave it open and free for circulation of air within it. The supporting-wires B may be straight or may be bent into any form that will bring an extended length of supporting-coil into any desired space.

It is desirable to prevent looseness or vibration of the helix upon its supporting wires or rods and to give it firm support thereon, so that firm tangential contact is maintained between one side of each supporting-wire and the helix. This result is readily attained by the use of a plurality of supporting-wires B B, so that each serves to hold the helix in firm contact with the other or others. If two supporting wires or rods are used, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, they are placed as far apart as the diameter of the supported helix will permit. When placed vertically, one above the other, as shown, which is the preferred arrangement, the upper rod B serves, strictly speaking, to support the helix, while the lower one serves to hold the helix in firm contact with the upper one and also act as a stop or stay to prevent any lateral or swaying movement of the helix. Thus the helix is supported and held or checked against displacement continuously of its lengththat is to say, not only at its ends, but also at points intermediate thereof.

It is necessary to insulate the resistant-wire A from the supporting wires or rods B, which may be done by coating either or both with any suitable heat-resistant insulation, preferably enamel. I prefer to enamel the supporting wires or rods B, their enamel coating being indicated at a a. The supports B may be wires or metal rods or any suitable substitutes therefor, such as rods of glass or porcelain or any material having sufficient stiffness for the purpose and either an insulator with insulation.

I will now proceed to more particularly describe the application of my invention to the construction of electric heaters with reference to Figs. 3 and 4, the heater shown in these figures being for heating air, and adaptable to electric cars and to apartments, &c. The inclosing case of the heater has the general form of a horizontal cylinder, its opposite ends being formed by heads or disks C 0, between which is extended a foraminous or barred or grated casing l) in the general form of an open-work tube, being preferably made of perforated sheet metal. \Vithin the easing is centrally inclosed the resistant-helix A, supported on its wires or rods B. The ends of the supporting-rods B B are supported by inserting them in holes made for them in the heads. The heads are held at fixed distances apart, which may be accomplished by drawing the heads tightly against the opposite ends of the casing D, which is itself rigid, this being accomplished by screwing nuts ff upon the threaded ends of the supporting wire or rod 13 in such manner that it is made to serve both as a support for the resistanthelix and as a tie for drawing together the opposite heads.

With the construction described, all that is necessary to complete the electric heater is to make electrical-circuit connections with the opposite ends of the resistant-wire. For this purpose binding-posts c 0 may be provided, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

For heating air, my improved heater is arranged horizontally, and if an outer casing D is employed it is made with perforations or air-spaces of ample area for admitting a large flow of air through the heater to conduct away the heat given out by the resistanthelix A. In my heater the resistant-helix is wound upon a skeleton support which does not oppose the circulation of air, and con sequently the air has access to all portions of the helix and conducts away the heat with apparently equal effectiveness from all portions, so that the entire length of resistantwire remains, to all appearance, of uniform temperature.

I make no claim in this application to the use of a single wire or rod 13 within the helix as a support therefor, such construction being in effect claimed in my aforesaid application, Serial No. 666,02. My present application is limited to the employment of a plurality of supporting wires or rods B for the resistant helix, one example of which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, where there are two supporting-wires, while other examples of a plurality of supporting-wires are shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

I claim as my invention the following-defined novel features, substantially as hereinbefore specified, namely:

1. An electric heater comprising an open h lix of resistant-wire having sufficient stiffncss or resilience to retain its helical form,

and a support therefor consisting of a plurality of rods extended within said helix, of materiall y smaller diameter than the interior thereof, so that the helix is interiorly open for free circulation of air within it, said rods supporting the convolutions of said helix by tangential contact therewith each at a single point only of their circumference.

2. An electric heater comprising an open helix of resistant-wire of sullicient stiffness to retain its helical form, and a support therefor comprising a plurality of stiff rods of materially less diameter than that of the helix, and arranged within it, each such rod making contact at one point only with the convolutions of the helix, and means for supporting the ends of the rods.

3. An electric heater comprising an open helix of sufiicient stiffness to maintain its helical form, a plurality of stiff rods of materially less diameter than the helix, arranged longitudinally therein and supporting the same by tangential contact each at one point only with each convolution of the helix, whereby free circulation of air within the helix is permitted, and end supports having openings to receive and hold said rods.

at. An electric heater comprising an open resistant-helix, a plurality of supporting-rods arranged longitudinally therein, opposite end heads supporting the ends of said rods, and an open-work casing in the general form of a tube inclosing said helix.

5. An electric heater comprising an open resistant-helix, a stiff supporting-rod therein of materially less diameter than that of the helix and making supporting contact with the convolutions of the helix at a single point only, and means engaging the convolutions to stay the helix against lateral sway.

(3. An electric heater comprising an open resistant-helix of suilicient stii'fn ess to retain its helical form, a stiff straight rod of materially less diameter than that of the helix, arranged within it and making contact with its convolutions at one point only, and means intermediate of the ends of the helix for stopping its lateral or swaying movement.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ED'WARD E. GOLD.

\Vitnesses:

THOMAS F. WALLACE, FRED \VHITE. 

